Beware of the beach - 9/21/2020

We are going on our 3rd year in OS. We love the small town feel, the low stress and feeling of safety. This is all for the winter months mind you. In the summer, it is a wild, free for all of Seattle vacationers and the town swells to the point where you don't want to leave your house. The town is under served for essential services like groceries and gas. It's almost impossible to find contractors to work on your home and property crime is on the rise. The school district is one of the worst I have ever experienced and there are currently more than 100 homeless children in the district and most of the teachers are less than stellar, which makes it almost impossible for children to learn in the classroom. I would suggest renting for a year before making the leap to buy a home here. It is a completely different world at the beach. Some for the good and some for the bad!

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Affordable Gem of a City - 5/31/2015

Wonderful beach town.... we're going into our second year and I disagree with the grocery store comments and the weather. Yes, it rains or drizzles on occasion, but the weather passes in OS rather quickly and there are very few days you can't go to the beach in Spring, Summer & Autumn. It's the wind that determines how the weather actually feels outside in OS. A 60 degree day with no wind is wonderful! For those retirees looking for a slower pace of life that includes beautiful wildlife to look at (deer, rabbits, so so many birds), a place to fish (ocean, and lakes producing trout every time we go & the clamming OH MY), and entertainment (movie theater, walking trails, community centers w/gym/pools) this is the place for you. You get the clean air, the greenery, the beach, the parks, wine bars, restaurants/coffee houses, and a beach front casino 5 minutes away.... c'mon what more do you need? There is a lot of building going on if you're looking for something new or if you want a fixer upper you can take on an older beach front place... or buy a lot and build your own. The police and fire personnel are lovely and the small town is really a treasure. The grandkids will love to visit with all there is to do downtown not to mention the kite flying at the beach. I don't know what more you need if you're a beach lover looking for something affordable. And, if you're itching for more get that RV and travel during the winter months when it does rain. We came from CA, where the weather is "ideal", but you cannot get a beachfront property for under $2 million. I cannot believe OS is not completely jam packed, sold out and more expensive for the amenities it does have. I almost don't want to write such a glowing review and keep this place to myself, but I know there must be some beach loving retirees scouring for a place like this. Good folks who respect the oceans, streams, and wildlife should move in.

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Ocean Shores not just for retirement - 11/6/2012

We invested in Ocean Shores as a second home to spend our weekends after the work week stress. I'm also a property manager that works in Washington, Oregon and California so my investment observations have some merit. Just for prospective's sake, I'm also going to be retirement age in ten years. It's time to encourage not just the retirement community but all working generations to invest in Washington's coast. As the downtown retail declines, the restaurants fight to survive and the City takes on projects they can't afford the appeal of the town continues to suffer. Time to find a new way of looking at the City with some out of the box thinking. LID's seem to be the only way to generate income and pay for projects. Enourage a new route to the City outside of the Aberdeen and Hoquiam's first impression. The merchants Association of Aberdeen and Hoquiam controls Ocean Shores, how does that happen? Does McMinville control Lincoln City or Newport Oregon? Create some development with tax incentives for income producing businesses, stop helping other poor performing economies. Wind generated energy is making a huge difference in other costal communities why aren't we tapping into these ideas? Retired people today want entertainment, stable business to encourage retail and downtown growth, destination bound tourism and reputation that will encourage real estate value improvement. Learn from other national towns, you continue to do the same things and expect a different result guess what happens. If they can grow green grass Phoenix Arizona we can create the best coastal town destination in the north west. Final note, there is only so much coastal real estate in the world why should ours be the most depressed? Northeastern weather isn't the greatest either during the winter I still paid a lot to get there this year. I'm a little bitter on the coast. Time for change. Vote in some forward thinking, please!!!

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Cost of Living Higher Than It's Worth in Ocean Sho - 2/25/2012

It needs to be known that anyone living in Ocean Shores has only one, very small, very poorly-stocked, very high priced grocery store in the entire town. If you want better prices (and you will) or better selection you have to drive 45 minutes to Aberdeen/Hoquiam. The government classifies Ocean Shores as a "food desert", meaning that there is little to no availability of healthful, fresh foods at reasonable prices. There are a few restaurants, though the lifespan of an Ocean Shores restaurant is very short, and there are only a couple that could be considered low cost. During the winter (read: non-tourist season) stores and restaurants close very early, if they open at all, which means a permanent resident has an even harder time accessing healthful foods. The one and only road out of town can be treacherous-to-impassable after winter storms and high winds, which happen a couple of times a year. If you are considering moving to Ocean Shores, please do it with both eyes open; it looks lovely on a sunny summer's day when you're on vacation, but it is very grey and dismal most of the rest of the year. Also, schools are of very poor quality throughout Grays Harbor County.

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Ocean Shores-easy living - 3/28/2010

We retired to Ocean Shores about 6 months ago. We have just spent our first winter here and the weather is very similar to Seattle...except a little exaggerated..(weather changes are quicker and shorter in duration). The air is amazingly clean and the stars and moon at night were startling at first (like diamond flashes in the sky) after living in a big city for years. The people are friendly and once they find out you're a "full-timer" you are part of the fold. They have an excellent emergency response team and if two cars are seen on the same road at the same time, we wonder what's up with the traffic jam. Very laid back, relaxing lifestyle.

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A wonderful friendly, though rainy, coastal town t - 2/2/2010

I have lived in Ocean Shores as a retiree for about 3 years. The people are friendly and easy to get to know. The homes are lovely and cheap. Many ocean or lake view homes for around or under 200K. But we have no medical clinic nor physician. So if some nice doctor, or licensed nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant is reading this who would like a lovely home by the bay, the lake, or the Pacific Ocean really cheap and lots of compliant, friendly patients, She or He would be most welcome.

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Too much rain - 12/28/2007

It is a nice small resort town, but the weather has taken a huge toll on me. After 18 years of 60-90 inches of rain a year and too cool summers, I am ready for some warmth and dryness.

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